Hearse



Jan. 21, 1941;

H. A. TouLmNfJR HEARSE Filed March 27, 1939 7' Sheets-Sheet 2' ATTORNEYSJan. 21, 1941. H. A. I'OULMIN, JR 2,229,483

' HEARSE Filed March 27, 1939 'T Sheets-Sheet 5 Jan. 21', 1941.

H. A. TOULMIN JR HEARSE Filed March 27, 1939 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Jmm HARRYA.TOULMIN,.Trt,

T $M-w mw lh Jan. 21, 1941. A TOULMlN, JR 2,229,483

nmnsn Filed March 27, 1959 Sheets-Sheet v HA RRY A. TouLm/mJk,

Patented Jan. 21, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2.229.483 BEABSEHarry A. Toulmin, In, Dayton; Ohio; ulignor to Commonwealth EngineeringCorporation, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware ApplicationMarch 27, 1939;8erial No. 264,299

- 10 Claims. (Cl. 214-43) and similar mechanism.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide means by whichthe table'supporting the casket, with the casket, can be movedfrom a10ngitudinal position to a transverse position about a central axiswithin the confines of the casket and the table so that the rear end ofthe table and casket will not engage the wall of the hearse oppositetothat through which the casket moves.

It is' an object toprovide a mechanism and a method for moving acasket-supporting table with or without a casket thereupon, through aside door opening of materially lesser width than the length of thetable or casket.

In particular it is the object of this invention to provide a tablerotatable around a vertical axis arranged on the center line of thetable and optionally closer to one end of the table than the other. v

It is a further object to provide means ofmoving the table bodily from acentral 'position, longitudinally aligned with the major axis of thehearse, to a position with the center of thetable oil-center of themajor axis of the hearse.

It is an object to provide means of simultaneously or successivelyrotating ,the table after its longitudinal axis has been thus displacedor while it is being so displaced.

It is the primary object of this, invention to provide a table in thehearse which rotates about I its vertical axis and successively orsimultaneously or previously is moved towards one wall of the I hearse.

It is a further object to place the center of such rotative' movementcloser to one end of the table than the other and preferably closer tothe end that emerges from the hearse last or remains in the hearse.Heretofore, rotatable tables have not been'employed although desirablebecause of the simplicity of the construction and movement and becauseof the elimination of any guide tracks in the floor of the hearse. Thereason such rotatable tables'rhave not been'employed has been thatcasket, in order to get the forward end through one side of the hearse,the rear end of the table and casket wouldstrike theother ,side of thehearse, preventing further rotating'and preventing exit of the table andcasket. The present invention obviates this heretofore insurmountablediflicuity by flrstrmoving the table bodily laterally towards the wall0! the hearse through which the table is to project. 'Then, according tothis invention, simultaneously with such movement or after it has beenperformed, the rotation of the table about its c entral vertical axistakes place. In this way, the table and casket can berotated on'thevertical axis withgutthe rear ends striking the opposite wail of thehearse. 1 g

It is a further object to provide fully automatic electrical means formoving the table in or out through either, side door of the hearse.which is put into operation by merely pressing appro I priate buttonswitches and which operates with a minimum of noise whereby the casketmay be moved into or out of the hearse through the side door with theproper dignity.

Still another obiectis to provide a modified form of table operatingmeans whereby the necessity for using a reversible operating motor isovercome. v

Still another object is to provide a modified form of fully automaticelectrically controlled operating means for moving the casket supportingtable hydraulically, thereby adding still fur ther to the quietness ofoperation while obtaining the other advantages of hydraulic operation.It is a further feature of this invention that by placing this center;vof rotation towards the rear of the table, this movement is facilitated.2

Furthermore, it is possible by this invention to optionally unload thecasket through the rear of the hearse.

In the drawings: v

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view, with the ,hearse walls in section,of the floor of the hearse and the'table and ca'sket disposedthereabove, showing the doors provided at each side and at the rearthrough which the table and casket are moved.

Figure 2 is a reduced diagrammatic plan view showing the position of thetable and casket partially extended through-a side door opening Figure 3is a similar plan view showing the tame and casket in their fullyextended position.

Figure 4 is a vertical section, taken on the line 4-4, looking in thedirection of the arrows, of

Figure 1, showing the operating mechanism for and rotating the table andcasing motor employed in Figures 1 to 5.

Figure 'l is a view similar to Figures, but showing'a modified 'iormwherein two non-reversible operating motors are employed.

Figure 8 is a similar view showing another modification wherein twonon-reversible operating motors are employed.

Figure 9 is a, view showingdiagrammaticallythe electrical means forcontrolling the operating motors of Figure 7. r

Figure 10 i a bottom plan view of hydrauli-= cally operated means formoving the table.

, Figure 11 is a view showing diagrammatically the electrical means forcontrolling the operating means of Figure 10.

Referring to the drawings in detail, reference numeral ldesignatesgenerally the rear portion of the body of the hearse, havingthe customary floor 2 and having a door 3 at the rear through which thecasket-supporting table t and/or the casket i, may be moved if desired.Located'in the right-hand side of the rear of the hearse is a doortwhich is hinged in' the usual manner to the side wall. Located in theleft-hand side is a similar door 5. These doors ti and b are located sothat the table t and casket ll. when in their final transverse positionshown in Figure 3, will clear both sides or the opening. The doors arerelatively'narrow, being considerably narrower than the length of thetable and casket, their exact width and location being determinm by thewidth of the table," the width of. the in= retorstandard 9 which forms'apivotal support.

for the casket carrying table ti. This table is mounted upon casters itthat rest on the surface of the floor 2.

t The pivot member 9 is connected to or integral with gear l l whichengages with a rack it mount. ed at either end on brackets lt beneaththe floor 2. This pivotal member ii and the gear ii are engaged by pinit, which extends through the gear it and into the member s and isintegrally connected with and formed as a part of the worm nut it, whichis threaded upon the worm "it. This worm it is pivotally supported byworm l t on the armature shaft 2d of the reversi blemotor 2 l.

In allot the forms shown in thedrawings, limit switches 22, 2t, auditare so disposed as to ap= propriately control the operation of thedevice in a. manner which .will presently appear. Limit switch 22 isnormally closed and is opened by the turret t reaching the end of itstravel to the left in. slot 8. Limit switch 23 is normally closed andis-opened by the turret f9 reaching the elitreme right-hand positionshown in Figure 3. a limit switch 26 is open when the turret t is in tomove, whereupon limit switch M- ton switches 25 and 2| are provided(Flgures'l and 6) on the inside oi the right-hand side of the hearse forcontrol of, the movements of the table through door 4 and a similar pairof button switches tl and 28 are provided on the left-hand side or thehearse tor controlling movement or the table in and out of the openingmade by door ll.

Referring to Figure 6 which shows the electrical connections for usewith the form of Figures l to 5, assume that the table 8 is in therunning position of Figure l, and it is desired to move it out of theright hand door opening. The op erator presses button switch 25 whichcauses winding at of solenoid 33 to move its armature and rod 8iupwardly, thereby closing contacts it, ti, 32 and, 88. Current thereuponflows through the field winding 86 of motor 2i and through the armaturewinding thereof in such direction as to movenut it to the right, therebybeginning to move table 6 transversely to the right-and at the same timecausing rotation of turret 9 and table it by means of gear ll engagingrack it. The operator holds button switch 25 closed only long enough iorthe table to begin hich was held open by turret t is closed andmaintains cell it of solenoid 2t energized through contact at, limitswitch ti being closed. The operator may then release button switch 25and the motor it will continue to move the table out the righthand sideof the hearse, until turret 3 reaches the end of slot ti when it strikeslimit switch 23, opening it, thereby breaking the circuit to coil 35 ofsolenoid lit, and causing motion-transmitshown in Figure 6, by reason ofsprings til, thus breaking the circuits established by contacts'tt, st,82 and ti t and stopping rotation of, motor 2i.

With the table in the position of Figure 3,12 it is desired to move itwithin the hearse. the operator presses button switch 25 for an instantsumelently to energize coil it of solenoid 29. Armature 229 then causesrod tl to move downwardly (Figure 6); establishing circuits throughcontacts dd, il, (it and it, current now being supplied to the held 8dof motor at in the same directhe hearse. This motion continues until thetable is in the rimming position of Figure 1 when it is stoppedby theaction of turret a striking limit switch as which opens the circuit tosolenoid coil 39 established by cohtact' i i thereby causing rod ill toreturn to the center position and stopping motor 24.

Similar mechanism is provided for moving the table in and out of theopening provided by door it, switch 2t being employed to move the table.

out of the door, switch 28 to move it in from the position where itprotects out door t, and limit switch tt being opened by turret t at thelimit of its travel to theleft in slot: El. whereby to stop motor 2i.

Describing now the modification shown in Figures '7 and 9, there areemployed .two motors tin and 2th for operating worm it, therebyeliminating the necessity for uising a reversible motor and eliminatingthe necml ty for using reversing switches for the motor, Motor am isadapted to move the table out door a while motor 2 to is adapted to movethe table out door t. Likewise,

motor Ila is adapted to return the table from the position shown inFigure 3 and motor lib is adapted .to return the table from the positionwherein it projects out door 5 A dog clutch II is disposed between motor21a and worm il. Dog clutch is is likewise provided between motor ill!and worm i8. These dog clutches II and 4B are engaged by solenoids itand ll respec-v tively Referring particularlyto Figure 9, the

electrical operation is substantially the same as wardly establishes acircuit through contacts 50 through motor 2 la and solenoid 41, therebycauslug nut ii to be moved to the left.

In Figure 8 there is shown a modification wherein two non-reversiblemotors Zia and I ib operate worm iii. These motors are connectedtogether by a coupling M, and are so electrically connected that onlyone of them is in operation at once. Thus motor 2 la in Figure B isemployed to move the table leftward, while motor 2th I is adapted tomove itrightward in the same manner as described in connection withFigure '1. When motor 2ia is energized, motor Mb is not energized and isrotated in a direction opposite to'its normal direction of rotation sothat worm i6 is moved in accordance with the direction of rotation ofmotor 2hr. Likewise, whemmotor Mb is driving worm iii, motor Zia isinoperative and is merely rotated idly through coupling Di. Foroperating the modification of Figure B, an elec trical circuit preciselylike that of Figure 9 is employed except that solenoids ti and 48 aredispensed with.

Referring to the modification shown in Figures 10 and i1, the turret 9is propelled to and fro along slot t'hydraulically by means oi belt Mwhich is fixedly attached to a plate 60a which surrounds rotatable pinto projecting upwardly in turret ii and which passes around rotatablepulleys ti and hi, being fastened on the side opposite from pin 60 to astationary member M which may be fixedly attached to the chassis of thehearse so as to be immovable. Pulleys B3 and M are rotatable aboutvertical pivoting shafts 5B and 56 respectively. Pivot shafts iii andiii are moved laterally by rod 51 which passes through hydrauliccylinder 58 and is integrally attached to piston 59 which slid-es inciyllnder 68. Thus the lateral motion of piston 59 is doubled whentransmitted to turret 9 so that turret 9 moves exactly twice thedistance through which piston 59 moves and pulleys BI and M are thusprevented from projecting outside the hearse by reason of thismotion-doubling construction. Electric motor 2 io drives hydraulic? gearpump Ii which pumps liquid from tank 82 into valve cylinder Bl throughport 12 and thence, depending upon the position of the valves incylinder ll, into cylinder ll, thereby moving piston BI and turret I.

In cylinder BI there is disposed a rod 84 passing wtherethrough and uponwhich are mounted pistons Bl and 83 so that-by sliding rod 04, pump Biis caused to pump liquid either into chamber 61 of cylinder bl or intochamber ll thereof. This selective operation is obtained by having ports10 and 'lil so disposed relative to pistons ll and 88 that the enteringliquid from post 12 can be connected either to port Iii or port 'ii.depending upon the lateral position of rod I l.

turn port ll When rod '4 is in the position shown in Figure 10, gearpump .il pumps liquid from port II to port 1i and thence into chamber01. As piston ll moves to the right, a corresponding amount of liquid isiorced out of chamber GI and returns to reservoir OI through port-s IQand II. Bimilsriy. when rod II is moved to the night (Figure 10), portI! is connected with port 10 and port H, which is now a return portconnected to rewhioh returns the liquid from chamber 01 to reservoir II.Normally, rod 84 is held ina positionsuch that pump 8i would forceliquid into cylinder- 81 by reason of spring ii. A

solenoid M isdisposed around rod 64 so that when the electrical circuitis estaiblished through solenoid 14-, rod ill is moved to the right(Figure 10), thereby connecting port ill with port in so that pump llforces piston ll to the left (Figure Foroperatlng the hydraulicmodification of Figure 10, the electrical circuit of Figure 11 isprovided. This circuit ishubstantially the same as that prevouslydescribed, motor 2 to being nonreversi-ble and bcing'al-ways rotwted inthe same direction whether the circuit to motor lie is establishedthrough contacts it or through con-. tacts i6. when it is desired tomove the table leftw'ard with respect to the center line of the hearse,an electrical circuit is established through solenoid coil 38, causingrod 31 to move downwardly (Figure 11) so that the circuit throughsolenoid it is established by contacts ll, so that pump ti pumps liquidinto the cylinder 8!, thereby forcing piston it and turret t to the leit' with respect to the center line of the hearse. When it is desired tomove the table rightward with respect to the center line'of the hearse,either by closing switch at or w, the electrical circuit establishedthrough coil to causes rod M to move upwardly (Figure ilk-therebyoperating motor die,- contacts 'il remaining open so that rod 34 is inthe position shown in Figure 10. whereby fluid is pumped into chamber97, forcing piston W to the rgh t with respect to the center line of thehearse. a

An adyantage of the invention is that the motion of the table isirreversible so that the table is locked in'a given position. Thustableii cannot be moved manually by pushing or pull ing it and it cannot bedislodged from therunning or transporting position shown in Figure 1 bythe jars and vibrations attendant upon normal transportation. In theforms; shown in Figures 1 to 9, the nut it andworm ll constituteirreversible means for driving turret 8. In the modification of Figures10 and 11 the piston II .and consequently turret I are prevented fromPiston II is thus piievented from moving in either direction sinceliquid cannot be sucked upwardly or forced downwardly through locked-(i.e., stationary) pump Ii.

"As will be understood, gear ll need be merely 'a semicircular segmentand need not be a full circular gear as shown.

Method'o! operation position with the longitudinal axis of the table andcasket aligned with and coincident on the longitudinal axis of thehearse. The table and casket are equally disposed from either door oreither wall of the hearse. This is the normal carrying and runningposition of the vehicle.

By reference to Figures 2 and 3, there will be seen the successivepositions in unloading and carried .towards the right hand open door andside wall of the hearse. The center of pivotal support 9 is disposedupon the longitudinal axis of the table and is located closer to therear of the table than to the frontthereof. As this lateral movement ofthe table, bodily towards the side wall of the hearse, is takingplace;the table and the casket on it begin v to rotate on this pivotal centerand in so doing,

the forward end swings through the door opening left by the open door 4and the rear end swings towardthe opposite side wall and door 5 withoutstriking either. because the pivotal point of the pivot 9 has movedtowards the opposite side wall.

When the movement is completed, thetable and casket .are substantiallyprojected through the side of the hearse, in which position thecasketcan be easily unloaded and in which position a casket can beeasily loaded on the table. This compound movement of bodily lateral androtary movement makes it possible to adopt a pivoted support for a tablewithout having. the rear end of the table strike one wall of the hearseor'project beyond that .wall if the door in that side wall is open.

If it is desired to lengthen the table, the usual pull out Slide can beprovided on one end thereof, so as to furnish an extended support forthe casket as it moves from or on to the table during loading..' F

It will be observed that the casters II) are ten in number, six of thembeing located CODCEHtI'i-a cally aroundthe turret 9, thereby givingample support to the casket and table in the combined lateral shift androtary movement.

When in running position, the table can be locked by the usual pins, orother devices.

.1: it is desiredto unload the casket from the rear endof the hearse,the door 3 is opened. Under such circumstances, it is usual to provide,a slide extension .on the rear of thetable to facili-v tate unloadingthe casket. v

It will be understood that the drawinzsare purely diagrammatic and notto scale. If'de- .sired,.- a double door or very large single door canbe provided. or a folding door on the side of the "hearse can beprovided so that the door opening is of greaterwldth than the length ofthe table or casket. I

Thus there are important principles in this construction and in theoperation thereof:

(a) The bodily movement 7 of the table and casket towards one side ofthe hearse.-

' ""f'(d) The irreversible drivin means forthe table so that it islocked in any given position degree of certainty in loadin transportingthe casket.-

unloading and (e) The automatically operated movement of the table.

It will be understood that I. desire to comprehend within my inventionsuch modifications as may be necessary to adapt it to varying conditionsi and uses. k

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is: I

1. In combination, a floor of a hearse, a table freely supportedthereon, a parallel rack and worm, a gear engaging said rack, a pivotalsupport for said table connected thereto, a nut-on said worm connectedto said gear andpivotal support, and means for rotating said wormwhereby said table is caused to move laterally and rotatably. 1

2. In combination, a hearse floor having a slot therein, a table freelymounted upon said floor, a shaft connected to the bottom of said tableprojected through said slot, a rack adjacent said slot, a gear mountedon said shaft engaging said rack, a nut mounted on the bottom of saidshaft, a worm in said nut arranged parallel to said rack and said slot,and means for actuating said worm for moving said not therealong and formoving said gear along said rack whereby the table is moved laterallybodily and simultaneously rotated. r

3. In combination, a hearse having sides, a door opening in each of saidsides, a table mounted upon a floor in'said hearse parallel to the sidesof the hearse and having its ends projecting said sides if rotated a utsaid pivot,- and means for rotating said table a t'said pivot and simultaneously laterally moving said pivot whilepre venting substantiallongitudinal movement of said pivot in such manner as to project saidtable through either of said openings while preventing contact or thetable with said sides.

4. In combination, a hearse havingsides, a door opening luone 01. saidsides, a, table mounted upon a floor insaid hearse, automatic means formoving said table bodily laterally of: the hearse without substantiallongitudinal movement thereof and simultaneously rotating said tableopening in oneoi' said sides, a table mounted upon a floor in saidhearse, manually initiated automatic means for moving said-table bodilylaterally of the hearse and simultaneously rotating said table whilesubstantially preventing forward movement thereof and for thereby movingsaid tablefrom a carrying podtion wholly within the hearse to a positionwhere itprojects laterally through said opening. and means operated bysaid table when it leaves said carrying position for maintaining saidautomatic means operative without further manual assistance.

6. In combination, la hearse having sides, a door opening in one of saidsides, a table mounted upon a floor in said hearse, manually initiated.

automatic means for moving said table bodily laterally of the hearse,and simultaneously rotating said table and for thereby moving said tablefrom a carrying position to a position where it projects laterallythrough said opening and for moving it from the latter position into theformer position, and means operated by said table when it leaves saidcarrying position for maintaining said moving means operative withoutfurther manual assistance and for rendering it inoperative when saidtable is returned to said carrying position.

7. In combination, a hearse having sides, a door opening in one of saidsides, a table mounted above a floor in said hearse, a turret projectingthrough said floor and in engagement with. said table, a lateral slot insaid floor through which said turret is laterally movable, a wormparallel to said slot, a nut on said worm so engaging said turret thatlateral movement of said nut is transmitted to said turret, a rackparallel to said slot, a gear fixedly attached to said turret and inengagement with said rack and reversible driving means for said wormoperating to either move said table from a carrying position parallel tothe longitudihal axis of the hearse to a loading and unloading positionwhere it projects laterally through said opening or to return said tablefrom said loading and unloading position to said carrying position.

8. In combination, a hearse having sides, a door opening in one of saidsides, a table mounted above a floor in said hearse, a turret projectingthrough said floor and in engagement with said table, a lateral slot insaid floor through which mitted to said turret, a rack parallel to said'slot, 2. gear fixedly attached to said turret and in en- .gagement withsaid rack, driving means at each end of said worm operating to move saidtable in opposite directions, one of said driving means being adapted tomove said table from a carrying position parallel to the longitudinalaxis of the hearse to a loading and unloading position where it projectslaterally through said opening and the other of said driving means beingadapted to return said table from said loading and unloading position tosaid carrying position.

9. In combination, a hearse floor, a table and means thereunder forfreely supporting the table on said floor, a pivotal support for saidtable, means for moving said support laterally without longitudinalmovement and for rotating said table, said means comprising a worm andnut connected to said pivotal support forca'using lateral movementthereof, and a rack and gear pivot for said table disposed within theconfines of said table, said table being so proportioned and so disposedwith respect to said sides and door opening that it would strike one ofsaid sides if rotated about said pivot, and means for rotating saidtable about said pivot and simul-- taneously laterally moving said pivotwithout longitudinal movement thereof in such manner as to project saidtable through said opening while preventing contact of the tablewithsaid sides.

HARRY A. TOULMIN, JR.

